The Associated Press interviewed Daniel Bryan ahead of Tuesday’s Smackdown Live in Philadelphia. Bryan, who had to retire back in February due to his concussion history, is not conceding that his career is over and he is still hoping to wrestle again. Bryan said, “All the real concussion specialists who deal with concussions every day, all of them think I am fine.”
Bryan is still under contract for two more years and he said that there have been times when he’s wanted his release but then he would come to his senses, realizing that he has a family to take care of. He and Brie Bella are trying to have kids.
Bryan understands WWE’s side of things on why they won’t clear him to return to action. He said, “You can see it from their point of view. If something happens to me … and then they let me back in the ring, and something happens to me, even if these other doctors say I’m cleared, they’re not the ones who the media will blame. Because concussions are such a hot topic issue and everyone’s afraid of that sort of thing, that’s one of the reasons why I wasn’t cleared.”
Bryan was irked by a recent WWE.com poll that asked fans who they would like to see Bryan face if he could return for one more match. Regarding WWE softening their stance with him, Bryan said, “Nothing has changed on their end.”
The AP got the following response from WWE regarding Daniel Bryan: “WWE determined it is not in the best interest of Bryan Danielson (aka Daniel Bryan) to continue as an in-ring performer.”
